A tour to the 5 historic churches of Nafplio

John KarkalatosNovember 8, 2025

1. Agios Georgios

The most historic church and Metropolis of Nafplio. This is explained by the fact that it is located just a few meters from the Land Gate, the only entrance to the city in the old days when it was enclosed by walls.

It is also known for the large hagiography of the Last Supper, a faithful copy of the 15th century work of Leonardo Da Vinci, which today has suffered significant damage from time and is pending conservation as in is the entire church.

The church was built in the early 16th century during the First Venetian Rule and then during the First Turkish Rule, after 1540, it was converted into a mosque. The current hagiographies must have been painted during the Second Venetian Rule at the beginning of the 18th century.

There are also many important events that have taken place here: the reception of the Venetian general Francesco Morosini in 1686 after the conquest of Nafplio, the funerals of the protagonists of the Greek Revolution Demetrios Ypsilantis and Palaion Patron Germanos as well as the first Governor of Greece Ioannis Kapodistrias. The first King of Greece, Otto, also went to Agios Georgios on January 25 1833, immediately after arriving in Nafplio.

Today conservation works have begun as the hagiographies are in bad condition due to the passage of centuries. Inside there is scaffolding and during the holy liturgy only few people gather as the environment seems cold but it is necessary for the restoration.

2. Agios Nikolaos

Another important church that remained closed for 9 years, from 2016 to 2025 due to the need to restore the serious damage that the roof had suffered which had soaked the interior with moisture. The maintenance works was completed in September 2025 and the church is now more impressive than ever.

It was originally built in 1713 during the Second Venetian Rule by Augustino Sagredo, the commander of the fleet, as the protector of sailors and that is why it is near the sea. The current church was built in 1836. Before the renovation the latin founding inscription was at the entrance but now it is not there and I do not know where it has gone. It is a single-nave basilica with classical and neo-byzantine features with a flat roof, the well-known “urania” which refers to italian churches while the wooden iconostasis and its marble decorations are unique examples of art.

The wooden iconostasis, the despotic icons of the iconostasis works of the hagiographer Ioannis Dimadis from 1848 and 1849, the hagiographies, the despotic throne and the impressive russian chandelier were fully preserved and restored.

3. Nativity of the Virgin Mary

It was built during the Second Venetian Rule around 1700. It is located behind Syntagma Square and specifically behind the Venetian Warehouse of the Fleet. This church raises the Resurrection every Easter in the square.

The iconostasis is a wood carving in the Ionian style crafted in the 19th century. The pulpit and the episcopal throne of the church are of a similar style.

It is open all day until late at night and many people visit it for candles and prayer. It is also visited by many foreign tourists.

Next to the Rosso cafe is the olive tree that the local Saint, Agios Anastasios of Nafplio, was tortured by the Turks in 1655 or 1654. Agios Anastasios was a resident of Nafplio, a painter by profession. He got engaged but soon divorced because he learned about some of his fiancée's misdeeds. Her family cast a spell on him in order to make him love and marry her but he lost his mind and the Turks convinced him to convert to muslim. Soon Agios Anastasios came to his senses and publicly threw off the muslim outfit he was wearing, shouting that he was a christian in the presence of a crowd of Turks.

He was immediately taken to a judge in order to be convinced to remain a muslim however Agios Anastasios remained steadfast in the christian faith. He was immediately taken to this olive tree that was to be the place of his martyrdom. The Turks probably tied him to an olive branch where they lynched him until he was dismembered. If you notice one of the olive branches has a red ribbon and is the point where, according to tradition, he was tied to be tortured.

His memory is celebrated on February 1st following a royal decree of November 14th 1935.

4. Agios Spyridonas

This church is intertwined with the assassination of the first Governor of Greece Ioannis Kapodistrias as he was shot at the entrance of the church on September 27 1831 by the Maniats Konstantinos and Georgios Mavromichalis. There is also a showcase with a hole opened by a bullet as well as a plaque that testifies to the event.

It is a small church erected in 1702 during the Second Venetian Rule with the sponsorship of the Nafplio Brotherhood of Orthodox Greeks. It is a single-nave church with a dome. It was built on the site of an older church that was destroyed in 1696 during the Venetian-Turkish war. The current iconography is from 1902.

5. Agia Sophia

It is located in Vrahateika area and not in Psaromahalas as many write on the internet. It is possible that its dates back to byzantine times, in the 11th or 12th century AD, which makes it the oldest church in Nafplio.

After the liberation the chapel was renovated in 1825 with the sponsorship of the garrison commander of Nafplio Nasos Fotomaras. Although it is smal it has a rather impressive iconostasis.

As far as I know it is not easy to find it open because it is small and Vrahateika is a district with few permanent residents.

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